23 minutes ago, Macca said:

Agree with your summation AF but we can finish as high as 4th if the cards fall our way ... the inequities of the draw with regards to the double-ups etc etc

15 wins might snag 4th spot but can we win 15 games?  We'll need to not drop games we should win but more importantly, we'll need to split 50/50 or 40/60 against the better teams

For instance, we're good enough to beat the Cats & Hawks so we need to get it done.  5 & 0 after 5 rounds and then the playing group can gain real confidence (yeah I know, one week at a time etc etc but we're just onlookers!)

But tonight's game was on another level ... I totally understand those who highlighted the errors made (and there were many) but the pressure and pace was through the roof.

I seem to be on my pat malone in that regard. That’s fine. I hate Richmond so maybe that is tainting my view.

The game got better in the second half and am not denying the intensity, but it was an error ridden first half and a large number of mistakes were under no pressure at all. Uncharacteristically so. You rarely see the Eagles or the Bulldogs turn it over for fun like that. I’m not excusing it on the conditions either. The skills were just poor and neither side punished the other for it. .

Our pressure this year appears to have gone to a new level. Early days but I don’t think matching that level is beyond us at all. What impressed me most was both sides’ ability to run the game out. When it looked like the Tigers would steamroll them Port found another gear. That’s where and when I think we will get challenged most against the good sides.

1 hour ago, P-man said:

I seem to be on my pat malone in that regard. That’s fine. I hate Richmond so maybe that is tainting my view.

The game got better in the second half and am not denying the intensity, but it was an error ridden first half and a large number of mistakes were under no pressure at all. Uncharacteristically so. You rarely see the Eagles or the Bulldogs turn it over for fun like that. I’m not excusing it on the conditions either. The skills were just poor and neither side punished the other for it. .

Our pressure this year appears to have gone to a new level. Early days but I don’t think matching that level is beyond us at all. What impressed me most was both sides’ ability to run the game out. When it looked like the Tigers would steamroll them Port found another gear. That’s where and when I think we will get challenged most against the good sides.

I reckon everyone saw the errors P-man but the cause & effect on why the errors happened is where we might differ with regards to our point of view (we, as in the numerous sets of eyes and how we view it all)

Frantic footy played at that pace between 2 evenly matched teams on a night where the ball was slippery (dew?) is often going to produce errors either forced or unforced ... but mainly forced errors

But you'd have to agree that tonight's game was played at a frantic pace and was end to end for most of the night.  The pressure was enormous and it was next level

The above is what appealed to me the most ... it could also be that we watch footy in different ways and for a variety of different reasons

Conversely,  we did see immense skills from the Eagles last week in a game played at high speed ... but Port were left flat-footed last week where as tonight they were up for the contest from the get-go (as were the Tigers) 

Edited April 9, 20214 yr by Macca

Anyone hoping for a sneaky Brisbane over the Dogs at Ballarat?

I hate getting ahead of myself as I don’t trust our club yet, but a low scoring 4 goal win over the Cats and a Dogs loss - and guess who’s the league leader?

Controversial opinion:  I think that late tackle on Dursma warrants a suspension.  If they penalise players for the outcome of an otherwise legal bump or tackle because it results in a concussion, they need to penalise players for committing illegal acts that result in injury.  That was a late tackle that was needlessly brutal and may have ended the kids season.  He needs to go. 

50 minutes ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

Controversial opinion:  I think that late tackle on Dursma warrants a suspension.  If they penalise players for the outcome of an otherwise legal bump or tackle because it results in a concussion, they need to penalise players for committing illegal acts that result in injury.  That was a late tackle that was needlessly brutal and may have ended the kids season.  He needs to go. 

The tackle wasn't out of the ordinary (wasn't paid as late) and Dursma's leg locks/hyper-extends as he lands causing him to buckle unpredictably. Nothing in it.

 

6 hours ago, P-man said:

Skills wise the level has been absolutely deplorable.

I’m with ya Pman. Yeah it was close and back and forth which added to the intensity, but the kicking and hanballing under minimal pressure was horrible for 3 quarters, I won’t count the 4th. Not to mention the kicking for goal. 
 

If/when we dish that up we’re all saying we’re not good enough. 
 

Was still fun to watch though, like most games this year. 

Edited April 9, 20214 yr by Deestroy All

6 hours ago, A F said:

Yeah, completely agree. I don't think we're anywhere near the standard of those two teams. High intensity and some good team defence on show from both teams.

It'd be interesting to see how we'd handle the tempo of a game like that. I think our midfield is equal to both teams, but the cleanness of the defences and the ability for both sides to get those ground balls off contested situations was very impressive. It looked like we were watching two of the top 4 teams this year IMO. I can't see us breaking into a top 4 consisting of Port, Richmond, Eagles and Bulldogs.

Agreed and you can probably add Brisbane into that mix too. My hope is in the sense I have that  this team is still gelling. Kozzi just getting into full flight , Jackson emerging, Brown yet to play and clearance tactics that seem way more refined and flexible. So I agree,  right now we’re not looking like a team that can play at the level of the top 4 or 5,  but there’s at least a chance we might be by seasons end. 

I checked out Big Footy Richmond. 

Common themes .... hate for umpires ... one in particular .... and almost universal hate for Aarts. Also complaints about Martyn and Mansell being selected.

15 minutes ago, bingers said:

Also complaints about Martyn and Mansell being selected.

You’d have to wonder if they stuck with Rioli and Caddy over debuting those 2 youngsters the result would’ve been different?

I have to agree with those who were disappointed with the skill levels. Goal-kicking, happy hand-balling and poor decision-making at times. The positive for me is that our skills don’t appear to be any worse than the other teams in this league

The big difference is the level of heat and intensity. We haven’t had any real pressure applied to us yet. Can’t wait to see how we hold up against Richmond on anzac eve. It’ll be a huge test of our mettle.

Edited April 9, 20214 yr by Better days ahead
stuff-up

10 hours ago, RigidMiddleDigit said:

Bloody hell Brian Taylor is hopeless. A waste of space and airtime.

Who the hell decides he should be employed in any capacity?

Channel 7 obviously believe BT *is* the entertainment. The game is just "the product" at hand to fill up air time, but to lure advertisers, there has to be an "entertainment experience", and that's where BT comes in.

Ridiculous considering he's the worst kind of "horse racing" style announcer, with a strong dash of Rex Hunt catchphrases and other idiosyncracies.

I had always thought the game itself was the entertainment -- how else to explain weekly crowds in the multiple tens of thousands -- but in the last few years the seagulls-chasing-a-chip rugby mauls have made it quite dull. This year it's actually enjoyable to watch games that MFC aren't in.

There have been some cracking games already this season, so hopefully the pendulum will swing the other way and remove the emphasis on "star" commentators.

BT certainly drags the game down a few levels, like it’s some sort of clown show.

If he mentioned that new guy for ports mullet again and how much the crowd love him, I would’ve spewed up.

Edited April 9, 20214 yr by DeeZee

19 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

BT certainly drags the game down a few levels, like it’s some sort of clown show.

If he mentioned that new guy for ports mullet again and how much the crowd love him, I would’ve spewed up.

Sorry for your loss.

Dogs and Lions are playing in Ballarat today....    would take a brave soul to trek there in that weather.

All four games today look intriguing in their own way.

3 hours ago, DeeZee said:

BT certainly drags the game down a few levels, like it’s some sort of clown show.

If he mentioned that new guy for ports mullet again and how much the crowd love him, I would’ve spewed up.

Football media always had its resident clowns, Lou Richards, Jack Dyer, Sam Newman, Dipper, Eddie, Rex, Hunt to name a few. If they weren’t effective in their roles they would have played it straight or never had a career.  The media wants fans to love or better still hate them. Ignoring them is death. 

Edited April 10, 20214 yr by John Crow Batty

Reckon the Lions and Saints are a chance to cause two upsets today

20 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Reckon the Lions and Saints are a chance to cause two upsets today

Meth Coke losing to the Aints

That would be a HUGE upset. 
i can’t see it, but wait and see....

Go Brisbane...  screw the Dogs

Lachie Neale is having a poor start to the season.

Brisbane are terrible. Not looking like a top 8 side, let alone top 4.

2 minutes ago, bingers said:

Brisbane are terrible. Not looking like a top 8 side, let alone top 4.

perhaps they suffer from the well known MFC odds and evens disease

3 minutes ago, bingers said:

Brisbane are terrible. Not looking like a top 8 side, let alone top 4.

Dogs will make a lot of teams look stupid. Sharp and direct, good skills when they’re not throwing it. 
 

Brisbane aerial defending has been embarrassing. 

Daniher is Buddy off Wish. 

Looks like Footscray against Fitzroy at an old suburban ground. 

Looks like the Junction Oval in the ‘70’s